International Law in Brief
Canada Joins 1961 Apostille Convention: 1000th Treaty Action for HCCH
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By: Ayomide Oloyede | June 7, 2023 - 1:06pm
On May 12, 2023, Canada officially joined the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, often referred to as the 1961 Apostille Convention. With the addition of Canada, a Member of the HCCH since 1968, this convention has made the legalisation process of 125 states uniform by replacing a “long and costly legalisation process” with the issuance of a certificate by a “competent authority in the place where the document originates.Canada’s ascension adds to their tally of five HCCH Conventions, dually making history as the 1000th treaty action relating to an HCCH Convention or Protocol. The Apostille Convention came into force for Canada on January 11, 2024.